No, One Year of Forum Isn’t Enough - From a Year-Two Member

If you’re reading this, perhaps you are looking into Key Associates Forum for your key executives. Or, perhaps you are a key executive yourself, exploring this thing called Forum. Whether you are a sponsor or a sponsee, you will be making a year-long commitment. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t, or in fact it shouldn’t, end after one year. 

Hello, my name is Meg, and I am a member of a Key Associates Forum. This is my second year in Forum, and I thought it would be beneficial for me to share some of the differences that I have noticed between year one and year two. 

But before we begin, let’s look at Forum as a whole. 

Executive Coaching versus Forum

When I first heard about Forum, I conjured up visions of one-on-one coaching sessions with a person who had been in the industry for so long that they’d forgotten what it’s like to be starting in an executive role. I thought I would have to do tons of homework in order to appear at least somewhat able to carry out the sessions with this scary teacher. But, thankfully for me and my stress levels, I was wrong. 

Of course, Executive Coaching has its place and, when done well, it offers massive benefits. But when you are like me, sharing one-on-one like that can feel daunting. It makes you clam up even more than usual. That much attention on you all at once? (Silently screams in head). Added to this is the fact that executive coaching has an end-goal that only gets you from A to B - think along the lines of a promotion or learning a new set of skills. It’s finite, and once that goal has been reached, it’s over - no more growth. So you then move on to the next executive coaching class. If this is what you are looking for, that’s great! For me and my CEO, we wanted something with further-reaching and longer-lasting benefits.

This is how we settled on Forum. Forum is a group of like-minded individuals, all over the world, who agree to meet up once a month, share challenges, and offer experience shares to said challenges. Think group therapy as opposed to group work. No one likes doing group work. 

And this is where the key difference between executive coaching and Forum lies. The learning is not measured on a rubric or checklist. It’s inherent in the way the sessions are conducted. It goes deeper than just learning a new skill, and it extends beyond the workplace environment. This is something that is important to my CEO because he wants me to grow as a person, not just as a worker. Forum was the right fit. 

Getting Deep With Forum Over Multiple Years

From the start, it became apparent that we would not be doing surface-level discussions. Without giving any examples (yes, strict confidentiality is enforced), we are given the space to open up on a deeper level early on. The types of exploration questions used in Forum made me feel like I was able to share more of myself than I usually would. And this is intentional. 

For someone who struggles to share her true feelings even with her family, I found myself using the questions to explore deeper within myself. And when I listen to what my forum mates say, it gives me the courage to share. If we’re all being vulnerable, we’re all being strong. And the fact that there is such strict confidentiality means that I am able to open up to my Forum without worrying that I’ll be judged for what I am sharing. This is the beauty of YPO Forums. 

I think my key takeaway early on from Forum was that, the more I gave of myself, the more I shared, the more I was able to find answers to my challenges. Now, in year two, I find that, more often than not, it’s the deeply personal challenges that I go to my forum mates with. Yes, work challenges are still brought up, but I get the most value out of being vulnerable about the feeling behind my challenges - not just the mechanics of them. 

Year One versus Year Two 

Having been in Forum for two years now, I’ve noticed some big changes within myself. Not only that, but my CEO (my sponsor) mentioned how he has seen even deeper professional growth in year two than he had in year one. This has not only made me stronger as a person, but it has also made me a better leader with my team. Here’s a look into some of the changes I’ve noticed:

How I Approach Forum

In year one of my Forum journey, I was still finding my feet. It took me a little while to get comfortable sharing deeper issues, despite the fact that Key Associates Forum makes it easy. But when I did start to open up, I found that it became easier each time to be more vulnerable. 

In year two, I promised myself that I would jump in vulnerable from the start. Not only would this speed up the process for myself, but it would also lend my courage to my forum mates, especially if they weren’t comfortable yet themselves. 

So, heading towards year three, my approach is much more open and ready than when I first started. My forum is my own personal board of directors, and I know that we all feel safe enough with one another to be that support system. 

Personal and Professional Growth

Year one of my KA Forums journey saw a lot of personal growth. For the first time, I felt like I was able to safely explore personal issues regarding some pretty heavy things. It made me better able to open up with my family and friends, and it taught me to be a better listener. Most importantly, it taught me the value of not giving advice. When people would come to me with their problems, I always felt the need to jump into “problem-solving mode”. Now, I give them the room to speak and offer them insight into how I have tackled similar issues. I only give advice if it is explicitly asked for. I no longer feel like I am in charge of others’ emotions or that I need to manage the outcomes for everyone. I trust that they will be able to find their own solutions. 

Year two saw more professional growth for me. And I think that is largely built on the back of the personal growth from year one. I am now able to speak up when I feel as though there are issues at work, rather than just sucking it up to avoid conflict. I am firm in my leadership style with my team, and more outspoken about it to my fellow leadership, even if it means that they disagree with me. And most importantly, I am more confident in what I am capable of. Imposter syndrome is real, especially when you are shy, and knowing that I have the support of my Forum has made a world of difference for me. 

Looking Forward to Year Three and Beyond 

When I first started in my role as an executive, I was nervous that I would stagnate because I truly loathed leadership development courses. I love to learn, but I hate being put on the spot in a lecture setting, and I detest public speaking at conferences. Of course, I knew what I’d be signing up for when I joined the corporate world. But that didn’t make it any easier for me. 

The great thing is, leadership development doesn’t need to be painful. Through KA Forums, I have found a way to grow as a person and as a leader, without feeling totally overwhelmed. In fact, my forum helps me to cope when the rest of my life becomes overwhelming. I feel safe, seen, and excited to see my Forum again soon. 

As I head towards year three in Forum, I can truly say that one year of Forum would not have been enough for me. Year two has brought out a new spark in me that I needed in order to tackle some heavy professional challenges this year. If I had gone with professional coaching, I’m not sure that I would have gotten the same results. 

Growth is not linear and I know that, for myself, I’m only just warming up. My hope is that, in year three, I can explore more of my personal and professional challenges - especially around my people-pleasing tendencies, and continue to provide support for my Forum mates.